Chapter 13 No.13

Kelli Nelson POV:

Baylee held the yellowed parchment aloft, her chest heaving as though she had caught the final rope over a bottomless cliff.

The Alpha King's heavy brow pulled together, golden fire flickering in his irises. "A letter from Edward? Bring it here."

A royal guardsman marched forward, snatched the parchment from Baylee's white-knuckled grip, and carried it up the dais.

I stood in silence, watching her smug desperation with cold detachment.

In my previous life, she had produced this exact forged letter after Edward's supposed demise, using it to claim the status of his tragic betrothed and secure her place in high society.

The Alpha King unrolled the parchment, his eyes scanning the ink before his expression shifted into something deeply skeptical.

"Read it aloud," Dowager Luna Erla commanded from her chair, her voice icy. "I will not have a fallen warrior's memory whispered about in corners."

The King handed the document to Beta Chamberlain Thomas Hayes. The official cleared his throat, projecting his voice across the quiet hall:

"'My dearest Baylee, the snows of the North are bitter, but the memory of your emerald eyes keeps the fire in my wolf's heart burning...'"

The words dripped with the sentimental romance of a court poet, completely alien to the harsh, stoic poetry of a northern wolf warrior.

Several veteran commanders among the high nobility frowned, exchanging perplexed glances across the aisle.

Thomas continued reading: "'When I return victorious, I shall cast aside all political matches and place the Luna's crown of Ironfang upon your brow. Yours eternally, Edward.'"

As the reading ended, Baylee threw herself to the floor, weeping dramatically. "Your Majesty! Edward and I shared a deep, secret love! Kelli is a usurper trying to steal the title that belongs to me!"

Demonte pushed himself up, staring at Baylee with shattered disbelief. "You... you told me I was the only one you ever loved!"

Baylee ignored him entirely, her greedy eyes locked on the throne, convinced she had turned the tide.

I let out a soft, pitying sigh, taking a single, measured step forward. "Lady Baylee, your imagination is truly remarkable."

Baylee snapped her head toward me, snarling like a cornered fox. "It is his handwriting! The palace scribes can verify the script!"

"I do not doubt your talent for forgery, Lady Baylee," I replied, my voice slicing through her hysteria. "However, you made one fatal error in your grand romantic tale."

I turned toward the dais. "Beta Chamberlain Thomas Hayes, would you be so kind as to read the date inscribed at the bottom of that parchment?"

Thomas glanced at the footer, reciting loudly, "The third day of the Blood Moon, year two hundred and forty-five."

I turned back to face the assembly, letting my gaze sweep over every noble in the room. "The third day of the Blood Moon. A very memorable date."

I walked toward the center of the hall, pointing directly at Baylee's chalky face. "On that exact day, Lord Edward was trapped within the Howling Gorge, commanding a bloody rear-guard action against three thousand Rogue wolves to secure the Crown Prince's retreat!"

Baylee's pupils dilated in pure horror, her entire body stiffening as if struck by lightning.

"He fought through a howling blizzard, drenched in the blood of his comrades, his supply lines severed for two full weeks!" I advanced upon her, my voice rising with righteous fury. "And you expect this court to believe that in the middle of a slaughter, while holding the line with broken ribs and a shattered shield, he paused to grind fine ink and pen you a love poem?"

A deafening silence gripped the hall before erupting into a roar of outraged laughter and furious condemnation.

Dowager Luna Erla surged to her feet, shaking with fury as she leveled her cane at Baylee. "Insolent wench! You dare forge the words of a dying hero to claw your way up the noble ladder? You vile, deceitful creature!"

Baylee broke entirely. She crawled across the stones, banging her forehead against the floor. "No! No! It is true! The Moon Goddess showed me in a vision! I saw the future!"

"A vision?" The Alpha King's laugh was sharp and deadly. "Guards! Seize this lunatic! She has committed treason against the memory of our greatest defender!"

Two hulking Royal Guards surged forward, grabbing Baylee by her slender arms and hauling her violently off the floor.

She thrashed like a wild animal, her pearl hairpins scattering across the stones, her face contorted in frantic hysteria. "Unhand me! I am destined to be the Luna! I know what happens next!"

Demonte scrambled away from her path, his voice cracking as he sought to save himself. "I knew nothing of this! She acted alone!"

I watched them turn on each other, a cold, merciless smile resting on my lips. In our past life, they had walked over my broken bones to seize power. In this life, they would tear each other apart in the mud.

As the guards dragged Baylee toward the iron doors, I raised my hand. "Wait."

The hall went quiet once more. I stepped directly into Baylee's path, looking down at her tear-streaked face.

"Lady Baylee," I whispered, leaning close so only her ears could catch my words. "Your cheap tricks are useless in a world ruled by blood and fangs. Welcome to the real game."

Baylee's eyes went wide with pure terror, staring at me as though gazing into the eyes of a demon.

Before her scream could escape her throat, the heavy side doors swung open, and an elderly figure cloaked in star-embroidered robes entered the hall.